AZERI LEADER NOT RECEIVED WELL AT NATO SUMMIT IN ISTANBUL – PAPER

Azadliq, Baku
29 Jun 04,

headlined “Ilham Aliyev receives cold reception in Turkey” and
subheaded “Saakashvili overshadows him again”

A NATO summit began in Istanbul yesterday (28 June) but the heads of
state and government arrived on 26 June. A “NATO at a turning point”
conference was held on that day and those who attended the summit took
part in it as well.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his counterparts came to
Istanbul on 26 June. However, the way he was welcomed and the attitude
to him during NATO meetings was different. Unfortunately, in a
negative sense. It was clear at the Istanbul summit that unlike
democratic governments, authoritarian regimes, especially the ones led
by weak leaders, are treated with disrespect.

Ilham Aliyev was greeted at the airport by the Turkish transport
minister, whereas the president of neighbouring Georgia, Mikheil
Saakashvili, was met by the Turkish deputy prime minister and foreign
minister, Abdullah Gul.

Moreover, during the summit it was plain to see that US President
George Bush and other influential heads of government treated
Saakashvili better than Aliyev.